Konrad Laimer: a key cog in the Bayern machine

"I’m really having fun here," said Laimer earlier this season in reply to a question about his future with his Bayern contract expiring in summer 2027. "I’m open to everything."

Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund retorted, "We would like to see Konny stay at FC Bayern for a very very long time," and it is exactly for Laimer being "open to everything" that the record German champions want him to continue a story that started with his 2023 arrival on a free transfer from RB Leipzig.

After two campaigns in and out of the side, this season Laimer’s yogi-esque tactical flexibility has come into its own and earned him a regular place in head coach Vincent Kompany’s starting XI. While Philipp Lahm and Joshua Kimmich have been converted from full-backs to midfielders during their time at Bayern, Laimer has gone the other way – and on both sides of the pitch – showing a rare world-class jack-of-all-trades quality not seen since David Alaba.

Watch: The best of Konrad Laimer so far in 2025/26

"He is very important for us and has also taken on an important role at FC Bayern," said Alaba himself at the Austria camp during the October 2025 international break. "His mentality, his attitude and his professionalism are unique. He really gives everything, and in every training session and every game he pushes it to the limit. He also has the quality to play in several positions."

Kompany has certainly noted that. He has started his Swiss-army-knife of a player in nine of Bayern’s 10 Bundesliga games so far and has used him in all of them, playing the dependable Laimer five times at right-back and as many times in the same role on the left.

"His energy and his hunger mark him out," said Kompany earlier this season. "The energy that he brings helps the team. We have a lot of quality, but you also need energy, that is very important for us."

So is Laimer’s quite literally unquestioning faith in what his boss tells him to do. "I wondered about it when the coach put up the tactical set-up," Laimer said after seeing he was playing at left-back in the UEFA Champions League against Club Brugge last month, while the left-footed Raphaël Guerreiro was at right-back. "The coach said that it was for tactical reasons. I have no idea what these tactical reasons were."

Cue laughter from media and Laimer himself.

"He’s the boss," Laimer continued. "Both myself and Guerreiro aren’t here to question it. It’s kind of cool to play on the left, though things are different for me as a right-footer. I prefer the right, but can make some interesting things happen when I head forward on the left."

Things happened in the shape of two assists in a 4-2 win as Laimer produced a performance that few would have suspected was one of a mere fistful in the role. But that is Laimer’s greatest value to Bayern: a consistently high-level of performance wherever he plays.

Kompany’s faith in him is reflected in the fact that only Luis Díaz and Harry Kane have played more Bundesliga minutes this season, and the Bayern boss has been handsomely rewarded.

As you might expect from a player who said being "the aggressive leader, that's always interested me more than the magician and the artist," Laimer’s combative qualities have been integral to Bayern’s league-low six goals conceded. He averages most tackles per 90 minutes in the squad, and has joint-second-most blocks. Yes, he is 14th league-wide for fouls commited and with four yellow cards already this season, he is one booking away from an automatic one-game ban, but then again, so is Díaz, a forward.

What is more surprising is that Laimer is also level with the Colombia international within the Bayern squad for 'carries ending in chances'. He boasts the best Bayern average in terms of metres gained for Progressive Carries and only Michael Olise – another forward – has more carries ending in a goal.

Laimer, who ranks 25th league-wide with a 88.63 per cent pass completion ratio and has the third-most successful passes in the final third in the Bayern squad, is the leading non-attacker in his team in terms of carries ending in a shot. He ranks 13th across the Bundesliga for 'intensive runs' and an eye-opening ninth for 'sprints' – only Olise averages more for Bayern this season. The man Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick called, “one of the world’s best at winning the ball back” has so many more strings to his bow. In fact, he is virtually an orchestra all on his own.

"He’s having a fantastic season so far. He’s one of those players who often flies a bit under the radar, but he’s a vital part of our attack with his runs and with his assists," said Kane. "The way he defends, whether on the left or the right, is outstanding. He’s doing a brilliant job, so I really hope he stays with us for as long as possible."

The plaudits have been raining down on the 28-year-old, but have washed over him.

"It doesn't get you anywhere if you scroll and read too much," said Laimer, who has a goal and three assists in the league this season. "I can be better with the ball, without the ball in transition both defending and attacking. You can never stop learning. That is my mindset. I get up early every day and think about how I can be better. The things that you can do well already you can always do better."

Ask the man himself, there is even the possibility of seeing Laimer filling in in other positions on the pitch.

"It’s a strength of mine that I can adapt. I feel good in many roles and I now have that calmness of knowing how to act when I’m at right-back. I also trust myself to play centre-back, less as a forward," Laimer, who has scored just three goals in 68 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern and 13 in 198 top-flight games across his career. But ask him where he wants to play and the answer is unequivocal: "Definitely in midfield." He may well have to wait to get back there.